Part 2 This all makes perfect sense to me...BUT...WHAT doctor has the time to even digest your story, and how can one tell it in the time limit alloted, especially if its a new doctor your seeing?
I posted this information due to my own disasterous confrontation with numerous doctors over the years of being misdiagnosed several times. First time, was in 2006, when I was renting a unit that was a fine place to live in. All upgraded (so I thought)..on main ground, front and back door access, new windows..insuite laundry room with furnace room. That 1st winter I was there, I began to develop flu-like symptoms and consistently was back and forth to a small town doctor(retired now and golfing in B.C.) who kept telling me I had the flu. I believed him and took flu meds. By summertime came, opened windows to air out the place from stuffy winter months. Summer went by, I got better and felt healthy. 2nd winter...Again I felt worse immediately when furnace came on. I began to have other terrible symptoms, back to same doctor, gave me same diagnosis. I said NO thats not what this feels like. I didnt drive so couldnt reach the city to see another doctor, he was only one available to me at that time. I took steps to contact landlords to come check furnace as somehow I had the feeling something was wrong with it...Was losing my memory and had brain-fog.They sent someone and stated to me (after 3 visits and complaints) that there was nothing wrong with it.I again took flu meds and waited for spring. 3rd winter, my youngest gal came to visit me for a month, she was then 4 weeks pregnant with her first. She too began to feel ill and we both went to see doctor who stated it was the AGAIN the flu. She left then to go see my other gal, within 5 hours of her leaving my suite she had miscarried. I was so ill and couldnt think straight but knew in my gut something wasnt right in my unit. I then called the major gas company(someone mentioned to me) who came within a day, he asked me my symptoms/how long I had been living with it/ went into the furnace room, within 5 mins he told me to get out immediately, that I was suffering from carbon monoixde poisoning...which I did.
continued....part 3...sorry so long but wanted to be heard.
"..if doctor persists on workups? ask what is it your.."working up?"...otherwise WHY do the workup at all. It is not necessary. Help your doctor see beyond your "chief complaints"..when you go to emergency, its the "Triage" nurse who writes that down/same as in the clinic/..help them to stay away from "open ended" questions.(yes/no).(Do you have back pain etc...ask what is the significance if i do?). If faced with YES/NO questions...elaborate to defer their "cookbook thinking". Doctors are schooled in textbook/cookbook thinking today. There are all kinds of pressures on doctors these days..to see patients faster($$), to use "cookbook recipes"...THATS NOT YOUR PROBLEM! Be your own advocate ....SPEAK UP!........Its all about communication.
Become a better story teller. If you dont feel your story is being heard, stop and ask doctor what their understanding is of your story. YOUR story is the KEY! ONLY you can change the way they think...
RE: Send an anonymous message #2
Dear anonymous..Its okay...no worries...